Polymer Infiltrated Nanoporous Metals to Create Bicontinuous Composite Materials

POSTER

Abstract

Most research on polymer composites has focused on the addition of discrete nanofiller to a polymer matrix to enhance properties. However many applications would benefit from a percolated network of the organic or inorganic phase, such as ion conductivity. This work focuses on the development of bicontinuous materials created by infiltrating polymer into nanoporous gold (NPG) thin films. The optical properties of the NPG, characterized via ellipsometry, are reminiscent to those of gold nanorods exhibiting a plasmon peak, which is controllable through the ligament size. Polymer films of amorphous Poly(Styrene) and Poly(2-Vinyl Pyridine) which have different affinities for the gold scaffold, are infiltrated into the NPG through thermal annealing, which provides further control over the optical response. A range of chain molecular weights are studied to probe the relation between chain radius of gyration and average NPG pore size and its effect on film properties. The polymer chains in the confined pores exhibit a slowdown in segmental dynamics measured through the glass transition temperature. The broad tunability of these hybrids represents a unique template for designing functional network composite structures from flexible electronics to fuel cell membranes.

*NSF PIRE #1545884

Presenters

  • Connor Bilchak

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania
    • Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania

Authors

  • Connor Bilchak

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania
    • Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania

  • Shawn Maguire

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
    • Materials Science & Engineering, University of Pennsylvania

  • Theresa Tsaggaris

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania

  • Samuel Welborn

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania

  • John Corsi

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania

  • Eric Detsi

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania

  • Jamie Ford

    • Nanoscale Characterization Facility, Singh Center for Nanotechnology, University of Pennsylvania

  • James Pressly

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
    • University of Pennsylvania

  • Zahra Fakhraai

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania
    • University of Pennsylvania

  • Russell Composto

    • University of Pennsylvania
    • Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
    • Materials Science & Engineering, University of Pennsylvania